News about agriculture in New York State and information farmers and consumers can use in their daily lives.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Eileen Jensen new Director of Promotion and Outreach for New York Animal Agriculture Coalition

From the NEW YORK ANIMAL AGRICULTURE COALITION

Eileen Jensen and friend

Eileen Jensen has been hired as the director of promotion and outreach for the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition.

Jensen brings a lifetime of experience and passion for agriculture to this position, which will aid the farmer-founded, nonprofit organization advocate for animal agriculture and the state’s 5,000 dairy farms.

“We are very pleased to welcome Eileen to NYAAC,” said Dale Mattoon, chairman of NYAAC and dairy farmer from Cayuga County. “As society becomes further removed from the farm and the amount of misinformation continues to plague the minds of consumers, the need for advocacy work in the dairy industry has never been greater. We are thrilled to obtain Eileen’s diverse skill set and enthusiasm to the team.”

Jensen was one of 80 applicants to apply for the full-time, first-of-its-kind position with NYAAC. Her tenure and experience in marketing and agricultural education, coupled with her confidence and public speaking skills made her the top candidate.

“I am very excited to be relocating back to New York to join the NYACC team,” Jensen said. “NYACC is doing great things for New York agriculture and I’m looking forward to collaborating and continuing the positive momentum into the future.”

Starting May 16, 2016, Jensen will put her skills to good use contributing to the organization’s blogsite, along with creating content for its social media pages. She will be involved extensively with the organization’s flagship event, the Dairy Cow Birthing Center at the New York State Fair, where three calves are born daily and nearly a quarter of a million people come to witness the miracle of life.

There, she will serve as a spokesperson for the exhibit, as well as an event and volunteer coordinator. Jensen will also be busy working with the state’s 5,000 dairy farmers, helping them be better advocates for their livelihood through presentations and trainings, creative materials, events and more. She will also aid in fundraising for the newly designated 501(c)3 organization.

Jensen grew up on a dairy farm in the Finger Lakes, studied agricultural business at SUNY Cobleskill and received her masters in education at Cornell. She has worked both in the classroom, educating students, as well as for large corporations during her time as an account executive for two major agricultural advertising agencies in the midwest.

The New York Animal Agriculture Coalition is a farmer founded and funded nonprofit profit organization with the mission of working to enhance the public’s understanding of and appreciation for animal agriculture by fostering a dialogue with consumers, engagement with farmers and cooperation among members of the state’s dairy industry.

Its board is made of up representatives from American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Cayuga Marketing, Farm Credit East, the New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association, New York Farm Bureau and the Northeast Dairy Producers Association. Pro-Dairy serves as an adviser to the board, which meets every other month.

For more information about NYAAC and its programs, visit www.nyanimalag.org or follow @NYAnimalAg on social media.